“No, stay,” Abby said, standing.

“But … he’s been gone for ten days,” I said, watching her saunter across the room to meet Travis in the wide doorway.

“Hi, baby,” Travis said, slipping both arms around his wife. He pressed his lips against hers, breathing her in through his nose.

Shepley sat on the sofa next to me, kissing me and then my belly. “Daddy’s here,” he said.

The baby shifted, and I sat up, trying to allow for more space.

“Somebody missed you,” I said, running my fingers over Shepley’s hair.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Good,” I said, nodding.

He frowned. “I’m getting impatient.”

I arched an eyebrow. “You are?”

He laughed once and then looked up at his cousin.

“Where you goin’?” Travis asked, watching Abby leave for the kitchen. She came back with two helium balloons on a string and a shoebox. He chuckled, confused, and then read the top of the box. “Welcome home, Daddy.”

“Oh my God!” I screamed before covering my mouth.

Holding the box, Travis looked at me, then Shepley, and then back at Abby. “It’s cute. Is it for Shep?”

Abby slowly shook her head.

Travis swallowed, his eyes instantly glossing over. “For me?”

She nodded.

“You’re pregnant?”

She nodded again.

“I’m going to be a dad?” He looked at Shepley, his eyes wide, a huge goofy grin on his face. “I’m going to be a dad! No fuckin’ way! No way!” he said, a tear falling down his face. He laughed, a bordering-on-crazy high-pitched laugh.

He wiped his cheek and then took Abby in his arms, whirling her around. Abby giggled, burying her face in his neck.

He set her down. “Really?” he asked, cautious.

“Yes, baby. I wouldn’t joke about this.”

He laughed again, relieved. I’d never seen Travis so happy.

“Congratulations,” Shepley said, standing.

He walked over to Travis and hugged him. Travis grabbed him, obviously crying.

Abby wiped her eyes, just as surprised as the rest of us at Travis’s reaction. “There’s more,” she said.

Travis let go of Shepley. “More? Is everything okay?” he asked with red blotches around his eyes.

“Open the box,” Abby said, pointing to the shoebox still in Travis’s hand.

He blinked a few times and then looked down, carefully tearing the brown paper it was wrapped in. He lifted the lid and then looked up at Abby. “Pidge,” he breathed.

“What? Show me! I can’t move!” I said.

Travis pulled out two tiny pairs of gray linen baby shoes, pinched between all four fingers.

I covered my mouth again. “Two?” I shrieked. “Twins!”

“Holy shit, brother,” Shepley said, patting Travis’s back. “Way to go.”

Travis choked, overwhelmed with emotions. Once words came to him, he guided Abby to his recliner. “Sit, baby. Rest. This house looks amazing. You’ve worked hard.” He knelt in front of her. “Are you hungry? I can cook you something. Anything. Name it.”

Abby laughed.

“You’re making me look bad, Trav,” Shepley teased.

“Like you haven’t made a huge fuss over me this entire time,” I said.